Library Use Value Calculator
This worksheet has been adapted from the Massachusetts Library Association and Chelmsford Library.
The cost figures for library services were derived by the Massachusetts Library Association based on the table below:
| Library Service | Value of Service | Based On |
|---|---|---|
| Adult Books Borrowed | $17.00 | Amazon.com average price |
| Young Adult Books Borrowed | $12.00 | Amazon.com average price |
| Children Books Borrowed | $17.00 | Amazon.com average price |
| Audiobooks Borrowed | $9.95 | Audible.com download average |
| Interlibrary Loan Requests | $25.00 | Amazon.com average price plus shipping |
| eBooks Downloaded | $15.00 | Estimated B&N/Amazon average |
| Magazines Read | $5.00 | Estimated purchase price average |
| Newspapers Read | $9.50 | Boston Globe subscription (outside city) |
| Movies Borrowed | $4.00 | Estimated Netflix average |
| CDs Borrowed | $9.95 | iTunes download album average |
| Music Downloaded | $1.00 | iTunes download song average |
| Meeting Room Use (per hour) | $25.00 | Estimated value |
| Adult Programs Attended | $15.00 | Entertainment/program admission fee – estimated average per adult |
| Young Adult Programs Attended | $12.00 | Entertainment/program admission fee – estimated average per youth |
| Children’s Programs Attended | $7.00 | Entertainment/program admission fee – estimated average per child |
| Museum Passes Borrowed | $20.00 | Museum admission fee – estimated average for two adults |
| Computer Use (per hour) | $12.00 | FedEx/Kinkos price |
| Database Searches | $19.95 | Average cost for online article search |
| Reference Assistance | $7.00 | Average library cost |